Deputy Governor-General for Nevis


The deputy governor-general for Nevis is the representative of the monarch of Saint Kitts and Nevis, currently, on the island of Nevis. The role is appointed by the governor-general of Saint Kitts and Nevis to act on their behalf in Nevis. The current deputy governor-general for Nevis is Hyleeta Liburd.
The office and residence of the deputy governor-general for Nevis is Government House in Charlestown, Nevis.
The role is not to be confused with the "governor-general's deputy", which is a temporary position that assumes the duties of the governor-general when they are away from the federation or incapacitated.

Establishment

In the early 1980s, the People's Action Movement and Nevis Reformation Party government started the process of gaining independence from the United Kingdom and drafting a constitution for Saint Kitts and Nevis that would come into effect upon becoming independent. During this process, the NRP successfully negotiated for significant powers for Nevis to be enshrined in the constitution, including an autonomous island government and assembly for Nevis that would assume office following independence, as well as an additional federal parliamentary seat for Nevis in the National Assembly of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The new constitution for Saint Kitts and Nevis also granted Nevis its own Deputy Governor-General.
On 19 September 1983, the day of independence for Saint Kitts and Nevis, the first deputy governor-general for Nevis, Weston Parris, was sworn in.

Constitutional basis

The position is officially appointed by the governor-general of Saint Kitts and Nevis, but on the advice of the premier of Nevis. The position's duties are set out in Chapter III, Section 23 of the Constitution, which specifies from subsection 2 that:

List of deputy governors-general

Following is a list of people who have served as deputy governor-general for Nevis since independence in 1983.